One of the key policies in that discussion concerned height of vegetation and grass … namely, how high should it be allowed to reach before it’s time to ask people to cut it or risk being considered a nuisance.

That’s something Marengo officials will be pondering in the coming weeks as they develop a section of the city’s nuisance ordinance to address grass and vegetation heights.

Markley, in remarks to the council during a meeting Wednesday, May 23, noted there is nothing specific in the code right now to address grass and vegetation or specifically address height.

He put a survey out to area cities that have such ordinances or policies on the books and got 72 responses. Of those, about 40 cities allow 8 inches, while another 25 percent have the cut-off at 6 inches. About 13 percent let the grass grow to 12 inches, while other cities are varied.

“They recommend you put an actual height in,” he said, adding that some cities have varying policies for certain lots, such as residential, vacant and commercial.

Council member Bill Kreis – after a tongue-in-cheek response of whether the grass height should be “rabbit height” or “gerbil height” – noted, “We don’t want to set it too short because there are some people who get into the grass thing.”

Currently, the nuisance abatement’s grass process works is that report is made, it is investigated and if deemed a nuisance a door hanger is placed, giving the resident 24-hour notice before public works would go out to mow it.

Markley’s concern about the notice timeframe and setting height too high is that it might be several days before the grass-height issue is tended to.

“We just don’t want to have to invest in a mini-baler,” said public works director Lonnie Altenhofen.

Council member Travis Schlabach suggested that council members review the current ordinance and allow them time to review and possibly make their suggestions.

“Twenty-four hours is a little extreme,” noted council member Travis Schlabach, who said he’d like to see an 8-inch height. “My issue is if someone goes on vacation the grass grows and they couldn’t mow it before … and have we had that many issues with tall grass?”

“I don’t know if we’ve had an issue with somebody going on vacation. It’s an abandoned property,” said Altenhofen. “We can have a little bit of discretion … if someone’s on vacation.”

In the end, council agreed to start with looking at the policy and develop changes they see being needed.

INDUSTRIAL PARK

Several key resolutions were passed for development in the Marengo Industrial Park, off U.S. Highway 6 between Western and Eastern avenues.

These votes – all approved by 5-0 votes – included approval of the final plat for the four-lot industrial park, seeking bids for the ditch in the park and a policy statement for potential developers of the park.

The policy statement suggest that construction plans must be submitted prior to land purchase, to determine whether the quantity of land requested is reasonable and appropriate, that planning and zoning commission would review the proposals for appropriateness before referral to the city council, a full-site plan must be submitted to the city engineer and zoning administrator, and a statement of number of expected full-time employees and the median wages paid.

The statement also requires that developers improve the lots by $175,000 on the two western-most lots and $250,000 on the easternmost two lots. Also, developers were to be responsible for all fees associated with permitting and review, including but not limited to review of building permits, site plans and drainage plans by professionally contracted services such as the city engineer and attorney.

Schlabach raised concerns about the final point, stating he does not believe the developer should have to pay for the city attorney to review the process.

“It should be on the city,” he said. “The city should pay for that requirement.”

The policy also spelled out various requirements for utilities, and detention basins and drainage.

City engineer Eric Gould noted that planning and zoning had earlier approved the four-lot plat with some minor changes.

PUBLIC WORKS

In his report to council, Altenhofen gave an update on the sewer line on West Washington Street, which services the post office.

Roto-Rooter televised the line and found the sewer liner had slipped about 4¼ inches, and some new holes were found as a result.

Engineers with Veenstra and Kimm have been in contact with the contracting firm, Municipal Pipe, that did the sewer lining and it is unknown how they will respond.

“It raises the question of was it something they did for that specific liner, or was it curing process could’ve prevented or the actual cure in … the run of pipe, so there may be other pipes in town? Those are all things we need to find out,” he said. He added if it was not a contractor’s error and it was an issue with the pipe cure, a further investigation on other pipes in town may be needed.

Gould said that information will be provided, including results of televising and then a recommendation will be made. Schlabach remarked that a look at other sewer lines in town is needed to prevent a bigger issue, with Gould adding that Municipal and its engineering team televise the pipes and make a report. The city then would be asked to decide what steps to take, including whether a few or more lines – such as all the lines Municipal did – would need to be televised.

Altenhofen also noted that while his employees were cleaning the baskets at the city’s sewer lift stations, one of the stations had both pumps tripped. Upon an investigation several things, such as underwear and elastic, were found in the sewer, as if they had been flushed down the toilet. He asked that people avoid putting things not intended for the toilet down it to avoid issues in the future.

OTHER BUSINESS

The council also:

* Heard remarks from council member Greg Jergens, who was concerned over how games and practices are being handled through the Marengo Recreation Commission. He said the schedule, as set, does not allow coaches time for practice beyond the first weeks of the season. Only games are scheduled after the first game. Jergens said this does not allow coaches or players time to improve on or practice skills and other parts of the game. This leads to frustration, particularly when players keep making the same mistakes. He said that he addressed his concerns last year with MRC board members, but nothing was done. City financial clerk Ellen Young, who has been involved with coaching and in youth sports in Marengo, agreed.

* Approved the second pay estimate for the Brown’s True Value Hardware sanitary sewer project and a certificate of completion. The total payment is $47,704, with $2,645.77 in retainage withheld until seeding work is completed.